Apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons



BONS

July 11, 1933. R. E. BURK' ET AL APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE BOILING POINTS OF HYDROCAR Filed Dec. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7v PIA/4L cavasusse arc/maze 1 1 m a T ma: wkw 33 m 06 z H mm 4.1. 3 3a? ZTTOZV EYS July 11, 1933. R BURK ET AL 1,917,357

APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE BOILING POINTS- OF HYDROCARBONS Filed Dec. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J FoZerZ Bzfz By fizz-01x5 z/zamarz ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT E. BURK, OF CLEVELAND, AND ELLIOTT B. MCCONNELL, OF SHAKER HEIGHTS,

OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY,

PORATION OF OHIO 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- APPARATUS FOR ALTERING THE BOILING POINTS OF HYDROCARBONS Application filed December 1, 1930. Serial No. 499,160.

This invention relates to apparatus for altering theboiling points of hydrocarbons, and more particularly apparatus capable of higlrtemperature operation; and it is among the objects of the invention to provide equipment adapted to supply heat where wanted at high intensity, and with conservation generally. A further object is the provision of means for apportioning heat requirements in various sections of a converting system. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the. following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, or but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section. showing an embodiment of the invention: Fig. 2 is a composite horizontal sectional view, the left-hand portion of such figure being taken on a plane indicated by the line aa of Fig. 1, the central portion being sectioned on the line bb of the same. the next portion to the right being sectioned on the line cc, and the extreme right-hand portion being sectioned on the line d-d of the same figure, in order to bring out the detail construction at different levels; Fig. 3

is a composite vertical section, the left-hand portion being taken on line ee of Fig. 1, and the right-hand portion being taken on line ff of the same figure; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view on enlarged scale.

stance, or preferably burners T for gas or oil. Such burners are desirably positioned in distributed relation with respe t to the chamber. and preferably the mainfolds are of X-form whcrcby to provide a positioning of the tubes in cruciform for at least spaced groups, between which the combustion flame and gases may play. As seen for instance in Fig. 3. an arrangement in which each burner or inlet for combustion gases is placed in the bay between groups of tubes is desirable. At the top, the inner chambers are in communication with an outer chamber 8. between the inner and outer walls of the setting. Such outer chamber in turn, communicates below with stack-fines 9 leading to a stack 10.

Such arrangement as thus seen, provides an inner chamber for high heat application, and means generally for conserving or jacketing against heat loss therefrom, whilc'at the same time also making provision for heatrequirements of further sections of the equipment. At the top of the inner chambers 3 respectively, each is provided with a preheating coil 11. which connects with the upper manifold 4. Such coils lie between the partitions 12, but extend over to the outer chamher 8, and connect with an initial preheating coil 13 which extends thereabout. and has convenient individually-controlled taps to each coil 11. This coil 13 in turn, is connected by a line H to a heat exchanger 15 and thence to the incoming feed line 16, from a suitable source of hydrocarbon supply. the detail of which it is unnecessary to further show.

Each lower manifold 5 connects with a digester chamber 17. which is provided with means for maintaining its temperature at a desired level, ordinarily below that. of the tubes 6. This may preferably involve heatinsulating jacketing or lagging, or the walls of the setting may be enclosed about such chambers such as to a ford protection against undesired temperature drop. lVith any such means, the rate of heating desired at this point may be maintained, and preferably heat. already acquired in the main firing zone. From the digester chamber 17, a connection is provided to a further chamber 18, which for convenience may be designated a reactive chamber. Preferably a jet 19 for introduction of additional hydrocarbon ma- 5 terial to be acted upon by the highly heated products leaving this stage, is arranged. For instance, gas-oil vapor may be jetted in at this point and be swept along and be acted upon by the highly heated hydrocarbons as coming from the digester chambers. In the additional chamber 18 further action occurs, the temperature of this chamber being maintained, by lagging or other means guarding against material heat loss, at a degree yet relatively high, although ord narily it is a little lower than that of the digester chamber 17. A draw-0H 20 at the bottom of reaction chamber 18 leads to a suitablereceiver, the detail of which is immaterial, for

m the tar or liquid products settling at this stage. A connection 21 at the top leads to heat exchanger 15 and thence to a cooling coil 22, cooled by water or in suitable manner. A jet 23 in the connection 21 is availg5 able for use where desired, in introducing cold gas or the like for shock cooling at this point. From the bottom of cooling coil 22,

a connection 24 leads to a tower 25, and another connection 26 leads as a bypass, suit- 30 able valves being provided, to a drain line 27, or pump line 28, as may be desired. The pump line 28 proceeds to pump 29, and thence to a heat exchanger 30, and on by connection 31 to a heating coil 32 in the outer 5 compartment 8. Such coil in turn, connects by a pipe 33 to a spray head 34 in a flash tower 35. From the top of such tower, a vapor-line 36 goes to a condenser system, the detail of which is immaterial, and requires the tower a line 37 proceeds to the heat exchanger 30, and thence to connection 38 leading to a cooling coil 39. From the latter, a; pump 40 is arranged to. supply a sprayhead 41 in the tower 25.

In operation, the manner of usage possible with such apparatus will be readily apparent from'the foregoing. Hydrocarbons to be treated, for instance a hydrocarbon gas or vapor, preferably a refinery gas, is introduced by feed line 16, and the relatively cold gas picks up heat in the exchanger 15, thence roceeds through line 14 to the initial preeating coil 13, and thence-to final preheatin coll 11, and to manifold 4. With an e ective temperature in the inner chamber of about 1700-2100 F., the hydrocarbons are quickly subjected to a cracking or dehydrogenating action, and proceed to collector manifold 5 and reaction chamber 17. In the latter, a lower temperature maybe main; tained, for instance 110017 00 F., and polymerization quickly occurs. If additional hydrocarbons, gasoil, etc. be introduced at the point 19, interaction is favored further no further showing. From the bottom of in the reaction chamber 18, the temperature of which may be maintained for instance at 1000-1150 F. Heavy tar is drawn off thence by pipe 20, while gasiform or vaporous constituents pass on through pipe 21, heat exchanger 15 and cooler 22, with further condensation. From the cooler 22, the mixed products from the preceding stage pass to tower 25 to be met by a spray of liquid hydrocarbons forwarded by pump 40 from cooler 39. Pump 29 thence returns the liquid mixture from the bottom of tower 25 through exchanger 30, and connection 31 to coil 32, where the temperature is sufliciently raised, that on release through the spray perforations of head 34 in the flash tower 35, constituents will escape as vapor through connection 36 to the condenser system. Desirably, bafliing 42 is arranged in such tower, to avoid overabrupt draw-ofl'.

As an illustrative example :A refinery'gas is passed through the heating coils, attaining a temperature of about 1750 F. in the tubes 6 of the heating system, and thence passes to the chamber 17 and inter-action occurs at a temperature of about 1350 F., the products passing to the chamber 18 and are subjected to a temperature of 1000 F. Heavy tar which separates off. is removed by drawofi' pipe 20, while the gasiform constituents pass on through the exchanger 15 to the cooler 22, mixed condensate and vapors and gases proceeding thence to tower 25 and are reheated in coil 32 and pass through the flash tower and to the final condenser system, a yield being had of about 10 per cent of motor fuel (having an initial boiling point of 157 F. and a final boilingxpoint of 393 F.), and about as 4 per cent of eavytar As a further aid to heat pick-up in the intensive heating zone, we prefer to incorporate cores 43 in at least the upper portion of the tubes 6, the diameters being such as to leave a relatively narrow passage between core and tube wall. Beyond such cores, a zone of turbulence is then had, thereby yielding a very effective heat transfer,

By providinga coil 44, advantageously at the bottom of the outer chamber 8, air as supplied by feed pipe 45 from any suitable means, may be heated and thence forwarded to connection 46 to the gas burners or the like, thereby increasing the efiiciency of combustion. Similarly positioned in the outer fur- 120 nace chamber, and preferably above the heater coil 32, is anothercoil 47, which receives feed from a connection 48 to any desired source, and provides superheated steam through connection 49 to a jet-head 50 in '125 tower 35. s

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described,

provided the means stated in any of the fol- 15%) cs Mm W.

lowing claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

'e therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our inv ntion:

1. In apparatus for altering the boiling point of hydrocarbons, a furnace chamber, header manifolds at the top and header manifolds at the bottom thereof. a plurality of connecting tubes in vertical arrangement between said manifolds in bays exposing both sides of the tubes to the heat. and means for conserving the heat of said chamber and for preheating the feed to said tubes. .aid means including another chamber surrounding said first-named chamber and containing the preheating means connecting with the manifold system.

:2. In apparatus for altering the boiling point of hydrocarbons. an inner furnace chamber and an .outer furnace chamber surrounding the inner furnace chamber and communicating atthe top. a source of heat connecting with the bottom of the inner chamber. a stack-flue communicating with the bottom of the outer chamber. header manifolds at the top and header manifolds at the bottom of the inner chamber. a plurality of connecting tubes therebetween in bays e.\'-

posing both sides of the tubes to the heat, a

preheating coil above the top manifolds and connected therewith. and an initial preheating coil in the outer chamber and connected with the aforesaid preheating coil.

3. ln apparatus for altering the boiling points of ll \dl0(2lrbons. a furnace chamber. upper and lower manifolds each having corresponding branching arms forming an angle, tubes connecting aligned portions of such manifolds respectively. and heating means at each angle between such sets of tubes and on each side of all tubes.

4. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons. a furnace chamber. cruciform upper and lower manifolds forming angles, tubes connecting between said manifolds. and a burner arranged at each angle between the banks of tubes whereby to heat each side of all tubes.

5. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner furnace chamber. an outer furnace chambersurrounding the inner furnace chamber and communicating at its top therewith. upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, tubes connecting between said manifolds in bays with a heat supplied to each bay. a preheating coil over be top of said inner chamber and commun eating with the upper manifolds. and a preheating coil in the said surrounding chamber communicating with said first-mentioned preheating coil.

6. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons. a furnace chamber. cruciform upper and lower manifolds in said chamber, tubes connecting between said manifolds, and means for conserving heat supplied in said chamber, said means including another chamber around said first-named chamber and communicating therewith and containing a hydrocarbon-preheating cod, and means connecting said preheating coil to said upper manifold.

7. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner furnace chamber and an outer furnace chamber surrounding the inner furnace chamber and communicating at the top, a source of heat communicating at the bottom of the inner chamber,a stack-flue communicating with the bottom of the outer chamber, manifolds at the top and bottom of said inner chamber, tubes connecting between said manifolds. a preheating coil in communication with the upper manifold, and an air-heating coil in said outer furnace chamber and associated with means to supply the source of heat.

8. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, a plurality of inner furnace chambers, an outer furnace chamber surrounding all said inner furnace chambers with communication at the top for said respective inner chambers, upper and lower manifolds in each inner chamber, tubes connecting between said manifolds, and a preheating coil in said surrounding chamber in communication with the tubes in the respective inner chambers.

9. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, a plurality of inner furnace chambers. an outer furnace chamber surrounding all said inner surface chambers, upper and lower manifolds in each inner furnace chamber. tubes connecting said manifolds. preheating coils above said inner chambers and connecting to each upper manifold. and another preheating coil in said outer chamber connecting with the respective first-mentioned preheating coils.

10. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons. a plurality of furnace chambers. upper and lower manifolds in each chamber, tubes in each of said chambers connecting said manifolds. said tubes being arranged to present angular bays be tween groups of tubes. means for supplying combustion gases in the respective bays, and means for conserving heat supplied, said means including another chamber surrounding the first-mentioned chambers and communicating therewith drocarbon-preheating coil for communication with all the tubes.

11. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner furnace chamber and an outer furnace chamber surrounding theinner furnace chamber and commnnicating at the top. upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, tubes connecting said manifolds, a preheating coil connected with the upper manifold, a supplyand containing a hyline for material to be heated connected to said coil, 9. heat exchanger having an indirect heating passway in the supply line to said preheating coil, a reaction chamber connected to receive products from, the lower manifold, and a connection from said reaction chamber through the aforesaid heat exchangerto heat said material by indirect heat exchange.

12. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner and an outer furnace chamber communicating at the top, upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, tubes connecting said manifolds, a preheating coil in communication with the upper manifold, a digestion chamber in communication with the lower manifold, a reaction chamber in communication with said digestion chamber,a jet for the introduction of a fluid in the line between said digestion chamber and said reaction chamber, a flash tower, and means for forwarding the overhead products from said reaction chamber to said flash tower.

13. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner and outer furnace chamber communicating at the top, upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, tubes connecting said manifolds,

a preheater coil above the upper manifold and in communication therewith, another preheater coil in said outer furnace chamber and in communication with aforesaid preheater coil, a digestion chamber in communication with said lower manifold, a reaction chamber connected with said digestion chamber, cooling means receiving "products from said reaction chamber, a heater coil in the aforesaid outer furnace chamber, a connection from said cooling means to said heater coil, a flash tower, a connection fromsaid heater coil to said flash tower, and means for supplying steam to said flash tower.

14. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner and an outer furnace chamber communicating at the top, a preheater coil above said inner cham ber, upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, tubes connecting said manifolds, a digestion chamber in communication with the lower manifold, a reaction chamber in communication with said digestion chamber, a cooling coil communicating with said reaction chamber, an absorption tower in communication with said cooling coil, a flash tower, means for forwarding products from said absorption tower to said flash tower,

and means for supplying steam to said flash tower.

15. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, an inner and outer furnace chamber, a preheater coil above said inner chamber, another preheater coil in said outer chamber and leading to said firstnamed preheater coil, a heat exchanger having an indirect-heating passway through which the feed is passed and thence to said preheater coil in the outer chamber, upper and lower manifolds in said inner chamber, said first-named preheater coil leading to the upper manifold, tubes connecting said manifolds, a digestion chamber in communication with said lower manifold, a reaction chamber in communication with said digestion chamher, a cooling coil, a connection between said reaction chamber and said cooling coil through the aforementioned heat exchanger, an absorption tower in communication with said cooling coil, a flash tower, means including a heater coil in said outer furnace chamber for forwarding products from said absorption tower to said flash tower, and means for cycling liquid through said flash tower and said absorption tower.

16. In apparatus for altering the boiling points of hydrocarbons, a. furnace chamber,

upper and lower manifolds therein, means for supplying feed stock to said upper mani fold, tubes connecting said manifolds, a digester chamber connected with the lower manifold, a reaction chamber connected to receive products from said digester chamber, a heating coil independent of the said tubes, means for forwarding the overhead products discharged from said reaction chamber to said heating coil, and a further chamber into which the hot products from said coil are sprayed.

Signed by us this 15th day of November, 1930.

ROBERT E. BURK.

, ELLIOTT B. MoCONNELL. 

